The impulse to look at a card, or have one played against you in PvP, then scream "Nerf/Buff" can be overwhelming at times. For example, when you are having a hard time against your opponent and he plays an Eternity, ultimately shutting you down from drawing any more, it's a kneejerk reaction to go "damn, that card is OP! It needs a nerf, NOW!" While it's an understandable response, it's also somewhat unrealistic. This is due to the fact that Eternity, along with every other card in the game (currently) has a counter. Similarly, there are cards that people look over and say to themselves "sheesh, why would I ever play this card? It sucks and needs a buff."
While both a nerfing and a buffing statement can be understandable, I ask that people do one thing first before opening a nerf/buff thread-
ask what new cards could be implemented to help offset any card imbalance.I ask this for several reasons. First and foremost, any change done to the existing cards in the current card list is done exclusively as a result of the other cards in game. When, not if, a new card is introduced to the game, those new cards will invariably change how all cards interact, including any cards hit with a buff/nerf bat. Then we'd all have to look at the change done to a card hit prior to any new cards implemented to see if that change is still justifiable. It would stand to reason that this effect of hitting a card with a nerf/buff before new cards come out not only becomes redundant but may be detrimental to the game. Imagine changing a card because it was too weak only to have a new card introduced that synergizes with the modified card in such a way unknown at the time of the new card's creation that causes a large imbalance for the game. That imbalance could deter new players from playing and force us to go back to the drawing board and change a card that was already changed.
And while asking for nerfs and buffs can feel like the right thing to do a lot of time I see a lot of newer players going right for the nerf/buff section before really realizing how the card works or how to utilize a counter for such effects/cards. This is not to say every person asking for a nerf/buff is new nor does the asking necessarily is not always justifiable, only that I see a majority of posts asking for a buff/nerf that most veteran players agree is not warranted.
Yet the most important reason I would ask to really look at whether or not something needs a nerf/buff is simply this- new cards added to the game to augment existing cards not only indirectly nerfs/buffs cards people may feel need the change, but creates new environments for people to explore and build decks from. New cards can help older cards get more play, help existing cards fall into balance and overall keep Elements moving forward.
So I ask that if you see a card that needs a buff/nerf instead ask what new card could be implemented into the game to generate the nerf/buff you feel is needed. Maybe there's a card in the
Cards Ideas and Art (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/board,6.0.html) section that looks like it can do what you feels needs to be done. If not, I challenge you to make a card that does what you feel needs to be added to get the nerf/buff you want to see. If you feel you can't make a card, ask someone. There are quite a few people proficient in making new cards and I'm sure they'd be happy to help you out.
I don't feel that making new cards is the answer to every nerf/buff request because there really are cards that sometimes need a nerf/buff. But I feel a vast majority of the time adding a new card, or waiting to see what zanz has in order for new cards to be added, will fix a lot of the nerf/buff requests most people will have. I really believe if people work to see new cards added to the game a lot of nerf/buff requests will be satisfied and the game will continue to progress forward and be the great game we all share.
